mary pow
  • Textiles
    • Portfolio
    • Pillows
    • Handbags
    • Textile Belts
    • Available Textile Art
    • Retired >
      • Retired Handbag Styles
      • MinneBites (retired)
  • Soft Pastels
    • Gallery >
      • New Work
      • People - Commissioned Portraits
      • Works in a Series >
        • Lake Nokomis Area
        • Mom's Bouquet Series
        • Social Justice Series
        • Portrait of a Quarantine Series
      • Archive
      • Artist's Collection
    • Limited Edition Prints
    • Commissions
    • Available Pastel Paintings
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Visit the Studio
    • Biography + Artist Statement
    • Awards + Press
  • Events
  • Shop
    • Shop Textile Art
    • Shop Pastel Paintings
    • Shop Prints
    • Shop Note Cards
    • Shop Handbags
    • Shop Turtles

The Edge Effect

6/5/2019

0 Comments

 
In one episode of the podcast Hidden Brain, host Shankar Vedantam describes a theory called the edge effect, which is the point where two ecosystems adjoin. It's at this location that the most new life forms are created.

Shankar then asks the question: "What could happen when strangers meet?" He explains that interesting things can happen when people from different cultures, backgrounds, and points of view, work together. Just like the edge effect between ecosystems, innovation is more likely to occur when diverse ideas come together. Diversity and creativity go hand in hand.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photos of "The Edge Effect" in progress.
I've found that I can use the concept of the edge effect on an individual level to spark creativity in my art practice and my life. Simply by doing something different, trying something new, listening to another point of view, or putting uncertainty into my day, can cause a spark of creativity. Trusting that spark and seeing where it takes me is a challenging, but satisfying thing to try. In the past year, I've used these concepts to break things and start anew.

It is scary and uncomfortable to step into the unknown. But it's also exciting. And it's amazingly gratifying to come out the other side and see how you've grown!
Mary Pow textile artist fiber art The Edge Effect yellow blue modern art sewn fabric
"The Edge Effect" • cotton and linen fabrics, thread, framed • 50"H x 38"W
Everyone has a desire to be comfortable and safe, but the most interesting things can happen when you allow yourself to be uncomfortable. Open your mind to possibility. Be curious.
Picture
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Mary Pow

    I am an artist and designer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My specialties are textiles and pastels.

    I also enjoy reflecting on the human condition.

    In my blog, I write about my musings and my art.

    Find my bio 
    here.


      Receive my email newsletter

    Subscribe

    Categories

    All
    American Craft Show
    Art & Craft Shows
    Creativity
    Exhibitions
    In The Shop
    Jerome Project Grant
    Mary Pow Handbags
    MinneBites
    Motherhood
    Musings
    Pastel Painting
    Poetry & Writing
    Portrait Project
    Process
    Quarantine Project
    Textile Art
    The Art Business

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    April 2022
    April 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    October 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    RSS Feed

News
Picture
My final event of the year! Art Attack 2023, at my studio.
Shop
Picture
Social Media

​
INSTAGRAM
​
FACEBOOK
​
​​Visit the Studio
Northrup King Building
Studio 195

1500 Jackson Street NE
Minneapolis MN 55413
Picture
Shipping Policies
Returns & Exchanges
Website designed by Mary Pow.
©2023 Mary Pow Designs. 
All rights reserved.
  • Textiles
    • Portfolio
    • Pillows
    • Handbags
    • Textile Belts
    • Available Textile Art
    • Retired >
      • Retired Handbag Styles
      • MinneBites (retired)
  • Soft Pastels
    • Gallery >
      • New Work
      • People - Commissioned Portraits
      • Works in a Series >
        • Lake Nokomis Area
        • Mom's Bouquet Series
        • Social Justice Series
        • Portrait of a Quarantine Series
      • Archive
      • Artist's Collection
    • Limited Edition Prints
    • Commissions
    • Available Pastel Paintings
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Visit the Studio
    • Biography + Artist Statement
    • Awards + Press
  • Events
  • Shop
    • Shop Textile Art
    • Shop Pastel Paintings
    • Shop Prints
    • Shop Note Cards
    • Shop Handbags
    • Shop Turtles